FOR the first time this season, Marong has beaten a fellow top-five side in the Loddon Valley Football League after downing Newbridge by 16 points on Saturday.

It was a pivotal game for the Panthers to stand up in after they had lost their previous two games to Bridgewater and Bears Lagoon-Serpentine, while they were also defeated by Pyramid Hill earlier in the season.

But on the back of a dominant third quarter, the Panthers came from behind at half-time to win 15.10 (100) to 12.12 (84) at Marong Links Oval.

"We've been getting told by our supporters that we haven't been far away, but today is the day we needed to start beating these top sides," Marong coach Corey Gregg said.

"As a midfield group we spoke about our work-rate, which is where we got found out last week against Bridgewater.

"Our work-rate wasn't where it needed to be to compete against a top side, so a real focus today was working hard to get numbers to stoppages and pushing back to help the defenders and to the boys credit, they responded.

"Today was the hardest we've worked all season."

The Panthers were under pressure at half-time when they trailed by 13 points.

However, the Panthers unleashed their highest scoring quarter of the season in the third term when they piled on 8.1 to 2.1 to turn the deficit into a 23-point advantage at the last change.

"The game was fairly contested in the first half, but it opened up in the third quarter," Gregg said.

"Newbridge dropped off a bit with their intensity and we were able to step it up and own the footy and get it out into space, which is when we play our best footy.

"It was a really good response from the boys after they got a bit of a rev-up at half-time."

Recruit Craig Morris (two goals) continued his outstanding season in the midfield to be Marong's best player.

Ruckman Chris Morgan, Joshua Cooper, Kyle Manley and Richard Tibbett were also among the better players for the Panthers.

The defeat was Newbridge's second of the season, and was further soured by an ankle injury to Lachlan Ford late in the game.

"We were very poor in the second half. We butchered the footy and gave it back to them too many times," Newbridge coach Matt Dillon said.

"They are a quick side and moved the ball well. We were a bit flat today, but take nothing away from Marong, their pressure was too good."

Dylan Burt, Joshua White, Jordan Pawsey and Jordan Gilboy led the better players for the Maroons.

• Mitiamo won its second game in a row, defeating YCW by 13 points at home.

The game was evenly-poised at three quarter-time when the Superoos led by five points.

But the Superoos continued their recent strong finishes to games by kicking 3.5 to 2.3 in the final quarter to win 11.15 (81) to 9.14 (68).

"It was a tough game of footy in tricky conditions," Mitiamo coach Denis Grinton said.

"We used the ball better at times, were able to run the game out well and I was really happy with the pressure we put on, so it was a good effort by the boys."

Midfield recruit Matthew Perri continues to impress for Mitiamo and was again the Superoos' best, along with defender Spike Ingley and onballers Tom Grant and Aaron McKean (two goals).

Joel Pianto kicked three goals for the Superoos in what was a game where less than a kick separated the two sides at the first three breaks.

Consistent defender Leighton Driscoll led the way for the Eagles, who had Matthew Waterson (five) and Daine Lowry (three) combine for eight of their nine goals.

"This was a game we needed to win to keep in touch with the top five," YCW coach Pat Jess said.

"We were beaten in contested footy today. Mitiamo outplayed us in getting to the ball first and winning the hard ball.

"And when we did have the ball, our use just wasn't up to scratch."

• Bridgewater completed another demolition, this time thumping Calivil United by 142 points at Calivil.

The Mean Machine dished out a 26.21 (177) to 5.5 (35) hiding in their biggest win of the season so far.

The rout was led by Zeb Broadbent, who outscored the Demons off his own boot, booting seven goals.

Broadbent was among 13 goalkickers for the Mean Machine, who kicked 16 of their 26 goals after half-time.